This guide is designed to help secondary school and JC students score an A in math.
This guide is based on proven learning methods. I used these methods to drop my L1R5 from 22 in midterms to 6 in prelims, and I’ve since helped other students ace their math exams too.
While this guide focuses on math, it also works for any other subject.
A word of caution—following the guide takes work, but the results are absolutely worth the effort.
Finding motivation to study
Motivation starts with knowing why you study.
Studying just because your parents or teachers say so feels miserable—and you won’t get far.
But when you’re chasing a goal, like acing O-Levels to get into your dream JC, it’s like leveling up in a game.
Your “why” could be simple, like:
“I’ll study and score well so that I impress my crush and we get together forever”
Or it could be something bigger, like:
“I’ll secure a university scholarship to support my family”
Spend time finding a reason that clicks for you. It should be something you believe deep down.
Still struggling to find your why? Try this reverse approach:
Imagine failing your A-Levels and missing out on university. The fear of bad consequences can drive you to study more than any motivational speech.
Consequences >>> Motivation. Sometimes you need more motivation, but most of the time you need consequences.
What learning really feels like
Learning should feel hard. It’s like you’re stretching your brain.
If learning is too comfortable, you’re just revisiting what you already know, and that’s not growth.
To learn fast, push yourself beyond what’s comfortable for longer than it feels natural. Make it as enjoyable—or at least bearable—as you can. You will adapt to the intensity with practice. Once you adapt and it starts feeling easy, push harder again.
Your goal is to feel like you are dumb while learning. Feeling smart should be in hindsight when you look back at how easy the exam paper was. Feeling uncertain while you learn is a sign that you’re learning fast.
Study efficiency ranking: enjoyable hard studying > unenjoyable hard studying >>> studying stuff you already know even though it’s enjoyable
How to study effectively
These strategies work for mastering any subject.
They will help you learn faster and remember more. Effective studying consists of two main areas:
- Core learning strategies that help your brain process information better
- Practical study habits that create an environment for success
Each area contains several powerful techniques that work together.
Let’s start with the core learning strategies.
Core learning strategies
1. Recall, don’t reread
Forget passively flipping through notes or staring at your textbook.
Learning is active.
Instead of rereading the quadratic formula, shut the book and scribble it from memory. Instead of rereading how to add fractions, close your book and try “½ + ⅓” in your head. Can’t remember the steps? Struggle through it.
Struggling to recall is the point. That’s where learning happens.
Check your textbook only after you’ve wrestled with it. This beats highlighting or re-listening to lectures any day.
Make it a habit to actively recall and not passively reread.
2. Chunk your problems
Tackle complex math by breaking it into bite-sized pieces.
For example, before you understand “I ate 3/8 of the pizza,” you need to know what a whole pizza is, that it can be cut into 8 equal slices, and that 3 pieces is a portion of the whole pizza.
Master that, and your brain frees up to handle tougher stuff—like fractions combined with algebra.
If you’re always stuck on a topic (say, differentiating a tricky function), backtrack to the basics (like the chain rule) and drill them. Build your foundation first, or you’re just wasting time stuck in the same spot.
3. Test yourself (and avoid the illusion of competence)
Testing locks knowledge into your brain.
Don’t wait for exams. Instead, quiz yourself daily.
After your teacher explains prime numbers, list the primes below 20 (2, 3, 5, 7, 11, 13, 17, 19) without looking.
Can you do it? Great. Can’t? Even better—struggling means you’re learning.
Try quick questions like “Is 15 prime?” (No, 3 × 5). It’s not about acing it every time; it’s about flexing that recall muscle.
Just reading math passively tricks your brain into thinking you’ve learned something. When you only highlight textbooks or nod along during lessons, you’re fooling yourself. Your brain makes you think you understand while it’s storing almost nothing useful.
Make it a habit to test yourself as often as you can. This exposes the gap between what you think you know and what you actually understand.
4. Interleave math topics during practice
Mix up your practice—don’t grind one topic to death.
In one session, jump from whole numbers to fractions to algebra. This trains you to spot when to use a concept, not just how.
Past-year papers and ten-year series do this naturally, so lean on them.
If you practice only one topic at a time, you learn the method but you won’t learn when to use it during the exam.
5. Use analogies and metaphors
Abstract math concepts stick better with a good analogy.
For example, you can think of ratios as recipes. If a recipe calls for 2 cups of flour to 3 cups of water, that’s a ratio of 2:3. If you need more food, you must maintain this relationship - 4 cups of flour needs 6 cups of water to keep the same taste. It makes the idea easy to remember.
Analogies are like having cheat codes that help your brain remember tough concepts easily.
Study habits and techniques
1. Focus
Cut out distractions and study in short, intense bursts. No phone, no chatting with friends.
Try the pomodoro technique. 25 minutes of pure focus, then take a 5-minute break. Do this for four cycles and then take a longer 20-minute break.
Many students find this helps them stay on task. Turn it into a game and aim for 10 pomodoros a day. You’ll do really well if you can consistently do this.
There is no substitute to putting in the work.
2. Take Breaks
Studying for too many hours straight makes your mind tired.
When you’re stuck on a math question or your mind goes blank, step away. Walk, nap, or game for a bit—you’ve earned it. Breaks aren’t lazy; they let your subconscious chew on problems.
Ever solve a tough question after a nap? That’s your brain connecting dots in the background. You’re learning while resting too!
3. Eat your frogs first
Tackle the hardest math topics when you’re fresh.
Dreading geometry problems? Do them at 8 AM, not midnight. Your willpower peaks early so use it then. Solving the hardest problems first builds momentum, while procrastinating just leads to more dread.
Get the hard things done first and the rest of your day feels like a breeze.
4. Space your studying
Cramming is not effective.
Spread your math out—like daily workouts for your brain. Review geometry one day, algebra the next, then revisit both a week later. This “spaced repetition” builds long-term memory, so you’re not blanking out during your exam.
A little each day beats an all-nighter before the test.
5. Prioritise sleep
Sleep is like a free IQ boost, so get enough of it.
Don’t study when exhausted—nap first.
Sleep advice:
Set your alarm for when you want to go to sleep. Sleep at the same time each day.
Create a wind-down ritual—perhaps read a good book before lights out.
Stop working 1-2 hours before bed so your brain has time to wind down.
6. Use AI for guided learning, not answers
Most students simply ask AI to solve math problems for them.
This won’t help you improve at math. You learn math through understanding and practice, not by getting answers from AI. The fastest way to learn math is to treat AI as your personal, patient tutor.
Ask AI to guide you through hard problems step-by-step.
Show it your incorrect answers and get feedback on how to improve.
Use it to explain complex math concepts in simpler ways.
AI tutors like The Wise Otter let you take a photo of any math problem for instant help. See the step-by-step method for mastering math with AI.
7. Make a mental contrast
Contrast your study goals with your current situation to increase your motivation to study.
Here’s how:
First, see your success clearly. Picture yourself getting that A in O-level math. Imagine solving geometry problems confidently while your friends watch in amazement.
Next, recognise the gap. Identify what stands between you and your goal. This might include internal barriers (procrastination) or external challenges (not enough time).
Use this mental contrast whenever you feel unmotivated. The bigger the gap between your goal and current situation, the more motivated you’ll be to study.
What Next?
Attempting all these strategies at once will overwhelm you. Start with just one.
Maybe tackle your hardest problems first thing tomorrow, then gradually add more techniques as each becomes a habit.
Still searching for your motivation? Keep digging—your “why” is worth finding.
Remember that consistent practice, even with mistakes, is better than being occasionally perfect. Once you build enough momentum, you might be surprised to find yourself actually enjoying math.
Trust the process. Your future self will thank you for it!
